It Would Be Nice If...

...Carlos Beltran hit that grand slam homerun on Tuesday night in his first game back to give the Mets the lead.

...the Mets won the first two against the Marlins to basically knock them out instead of losing them both.

...someone brushed back Hanley Ramirez ("f- the Mets"- remember that? When the team that had nothing to play for knocked us out? Twice?)


...someone hit Cody Ross with a pitch. Just to see him get all bent out of shape and cry like he did when he got hit by Pelfrey last season.

...all those guys we saw in the Met dugout were healthy and playing since June.

...the Mets did not give out free hot dogs last night in feeling sorry for us, which would have meant that the team was doing well.

...hockey season started next week. It's close enough, with training camp opening up and the first game back at the Garden on Tuesday.

Series Opener Killers

The Mets won their fourth- what should have been sixth- straight series opener last night. With news of Carlos Beltran off to the DL, hope seems lost. However, this is the National League East. After the win, the Mets are only a game and half out.

Fernando Tatis was told before the game he would be the man and get more playing time. Too bad his first two at bats were ground ball double plays. He just needs some confidence after being put on the back burner with the arrival of Sheffield and playing only against lefties.

Daniel Murphy has been hitting. Yesterday, he showed some power, another good sign.

Omir Santos and Luis Castillo went 7 for 7 combined. Castillo showed some pop- from the left side, a sight you never see. He even looked like his Florida Marlin self with a sparkling defensive play up the middle.

Chris Duncan looked like some scary dude when he was waiting to hit. Good thing Jerry left Switzer in there to face the righty pinch hitter in the 8th. And how can we forget about the following at bat? Brian Stokes inducing a huge 1-6-3 doubplle play from Albert Pujols, who put on a show in BP, but did nothing in the game. There are still three more games though.

The goal is to stay afloat. Asking the rest of the teams in the division to stay mediocre would help. Stay within striking distance, hope the injured return, and get ready for a crazy September.

We'll Take It

It was not pretty, but it will end the streak, thank you very much.

Was there a full moon tonight? What the hell was going on with players and umpires in the first couple of innings alone? Carlos Beltran gets thrown at third with two out (I know, how positive of me, in a Met win, to post an image of that), David Wright does the same (except he was called safe by the umpire), Cristian Guzman does not go after a popup, and Fernando Tatis is called out on a play at first in which he was clearly safe. Everyone was having a rough go of it.

David went on to get thrown out at third for what seemed to be the rest of his at bats. I understand the one with one out. But trying to steal third with no one out after scoring a couple with the douple?? You can score on two outs, let alone a ball that finds a hole!

Keith's description of Guzman letting Adam Dunn go after that popup: "Shortstop's gotta know that's a strat-o-matic 4 out there". Or a ptp D. Whatever your flavor of tabletop, those games are addictive. I'm still shaking my head over Jose Rijo letting me down in a recent 1993 league.

With no J.J. Putz out for at least three months, we can only hope Bobby Parnell continues to pitch well. Even Sean Green looked like the Sean Green we were hoping for in the offseason, a very good sign. Yes, these are the Natioanls, but you have to remember, they are fourth in the N.L. in runs per game.

Tim Redding was solid I guess. I still don't expect much when he gets out there. Thanks to the rainout, we have Johan for the Phillies and Yankees, very important. The schedule overall is looking rough in the month ahead.

To D.C. Please

Disaster.

Mike Pelfrey was awful. The Pirates were anything but, despite having their best player traded the night before. At least Carlos Beltran looked good in his return from the stomach flu. Alex Cora returned as well, so the lineup was looking a little better. Anything but Ramon Martinez hitting sixth. The offense was fine. This one was full of pp- Pelfrey and...

J.J...ah, never mind, we've discussed him way too much lately. Would you like to reverse that trade with Seattle today? Jason Vargas is 2-0 with an ERA under 2. You win some, you lose some, but it seems like Omar is losing them lately. We can only rely on the fact that there's still a lot of time left this season.

It has to suck being a Pirates fan (aside from the fact that you own the Mets in your city). Andrew McCutchen, enjoy your time in Pittsburgh, you'll be gone in a few years.

And to think, the Mets have to come back here for one measly game on July 2nd due to the rainout last night. How about we forfeit the game and take the rest instead? The result won't be any different.

Complete Game

First off, thankfully we did not have to see the Mets in those red hats.

We got to see a throwback tonight. A complete game by Livan Hernandez. It's not exactly a no-hitter, but for the Mets it almost seems as rare.

Gary Sheffield hit a homerun for real this time. Yes, the one yesterday counted, but you know it would not have gone out had the fan not reached out and touched it. What was great about tonight's homer was how he reached for that low pitch and managed to hit it hard. I will be the first to admit I was against the signing. Dead wrong. Unlike my NHL playoff predictions (Detroit is one win away from setting up the rematch in which Pittsburgh will win this time around. Ugh).

We got to see the debut of Fernando Martinez. It was time, seeing how the Mets were dropping like flies and he was already hot at AAA. With Carlos Beltran declared out for the next three days, Jose Reyes and Ryan Church were placed on the DL, at long last. Fernando did not do too much, but what do you expect? For all the hype he has not exactly dominated the minor league level. He had a great May thus far. Show me more the rest of the way. He'll get his chance with the big club for the next week or so.

Mets 4, Braves 3, 10 inn.

Did the Mets actually win that game? Jair Jurrjens was cruising for Atlanta, on his way to a shutout. JJ Putz gave up an insurance run in the 8th to make it 3-0. Stick a fork in 'em. Out of nowhere, after a couple of singles in the 8th, Jose Reyes hit one of the left field wall. Greedy for a triple he was out by a mile. Instead of one out runner in scoring position at second base, we had two out and nobody on. It was a big hit, but a stupid decision by Reyes.

Carlos Beltran did it all. Leadoff double, steal of third, score the tying run in the 9th, and lay off a 3-2 pitch with the bases loaded to walk-in the winning run with two out in the 10th.

Today is the dreaded mid-week afternoon game. I will be attending. I don't know how bad a loss you can have after winning eight of nine, but hopefully nothing too bad today.

Smallball: Mets 10, Pirates 1

It's nice to see a laugher when your team is on a roll. When you get the W and you see that Ken Takahashi and Brian Stokes took care of the last three innings, you know it was a good game.

They did it with small ball, except for a bomb by Carlos Beltran, hit into the second deck in left field, the first this season to reach the "left field landing". Wouldn't been more appropriate to name the first deck left field landing, since most homeruns will go there anyway? Then again maybe more balls will land up top as the weather gets warmer. Anyway...

Reyes, Beltran, Delgado and Wright each had two hits. That's the recipe for a blowout in our favor, assuming the pitching holds up. And John Maine did just that- one run in six innings.

You will not see many homers in Citi Field like the one Paul Maholm hit. Just over the Mo-Zone in rightfield, yet underneath the Porch. Not much room for the arc of the ball to find that spot. Either it hits the facade of the porch or it's caught by the rightfielder.

Screw Pittsburgh. They're more concerned with what they're hockey team is doing anyway. Speaking of which, how's my final four doing?

Mets 7, Pirates 3

The winning streak continues. Fears of yet another let down against an inferior club were erased with one swing of the bat by Carlos Delgado, launching a three-run blast that busted this one open in the 8th inning. The odds were not in Carlos' favor. He was facing a lefty with a release point that came from behind his back, a pitcher who lefty opponent batting average was 1-for-a lot this season. It was good to see. Carlos had been strugging with the hip and you were concerned that he was going to go back to second half 07/first half 08 form.

Congrats to Bobby Parnell, who earned his first major league win. Did I already say I like this kid? Who doesn't, the way he throws.

Does Jeff Karstens look like he's related to David Weathers?

I like Nyjer Morgan. OK, there's a little bias there because I picked him up for my fantasy team earlier this season, but looking at him play for the first time, I was impressed.

Great job by Jon Niese. 6 innings, 2 runs, 5 strikeouts, 0 walks- what more can you ask? You wish you could get that kind of outing by Oliver Perez. Give the kid another chance against Atlanta in the dreaded mid-week afternoon home game next week, especially since that was the team in which he had his best outing in his few starts last season.

Can't do anything about that misplayed fly ball between Beltran and Church. What are the odds both guys could not pick up the ball?

JJ, you're up 5 runs, let them hit it.

He Slid! Mets 7, Phillies 4

A game is never over in Citizens Bank Park. The Mets have been blowing multiple-run leads in pitcher's parks. What's there to feel safe about a 5-0 lead in that place? As the lead was cut to 5-3 you were thinking this is awfully familiar, but it was a pleasant surprise to see them hold on.

Parks like this is just what the doctor ordered. Daniel Murphy hit a first inning homerun, and David Wright had a couple of hits. One of those hits scored Carlos Beltran, who in a close play at the plate actually slid into home!

Chan Ho Park continues to look like the guy who was one and done with the Mets two seasons ago. Since he's on the Phillies, that's a good thing. How long will he be on the Phillies is another story.

Whether it's his penchant for not moving a muscle if a pitch comes close to him, hitting a homerun vs the Mets, or his greasy hair, I can't stand Chase Utley.

I know KRod has to live on the edge, but would it be too much just to see one 1-2-3 inning? OK, to be fair, ball 4 on Utley should have been strike 3.

Should Be Working Instead

There's nothing like a midweek day game. Most people are working, but a bunch of them are enjoying a relaxing day at the ballpark. Unless you're a Met fan.

The Mets found a way to blow another one today. It was the first weekday matinee of the season, and my first of the season as well. Last season I went to four. The Mets are now 0-5 since last season in these games. All of them memorable:

4/8/08- Opening day vs Philadelphia. We're looking good with a 2-0 lead after 6 until the bullpen and some shoddy defense takes over, a sign of things to come. Phillies spoil the home opener with a 5-2 win.

4/30/08- A beautiful sunny day, yet the game was delayed 40 minutes. Not a cloud in the sky, but a water main break in the area. Oliver Perez gives up a 7-spot in the second inning and the Mets lose 13-1 to the Pirates.

5/15/08- Mike Pelfrey takes a no-hitter into the 7th inning. The problem was the game was still scoreless at that point. The Nationals get a leadoff hit in the 7th to end the bid, and scratch out a run in the 8th. With Carlos Beltran on third and one out in the 9th, Carlos Delgado lines out to first, Beltran's too far from third and gets doubled up.

6/12/08- 4-2 Mets lead the Diamondbacks in the 9th. Enter Sandman. Wagner gives up 2 in the 9th, Heilman one in the 10th and the Mets lose 5-4.

4/29/09- Johan has a new bullpen now to protect his leads. However, up one run in the 8th, JJ Putz walks the first two batters of the inning, a sac bunt and 2-rbi single later the Marlins take the lead. After the Mets have the first two reach base in the bottom of the 9th, they fail to score one, capped by a bizarre decision to pinch hit Omir Santos, who had to run in from the bullpen, for Ramon Castro, who had two hits on the day. Santos popped out to end the game with the bases loaded.

Slide! Cardinals 6, Mets 4

Despite all the other blown early leads this season, this obviously takes the "worst game of the season" tag thus far.

Heck it could've been worse earlier. Oliver Perez walked the leadoff man on four pitches. He regrouped after that, but then it all fell apart in the 5th inning in typical fashion. Three chances to get one more out and qualify for the victory and our $36 million man could not get it done.

The Mets had an easy 5-4 lead in the 8th. Carlos Beltran, however, chose not to get dirty. Instead he steps on Yadier Molina's (I'm sick of this guy) foot instead of home plate and gets tagged out.

How much longer do you go with Daniel Murphy in left field? You think the kid has any pressure on him to keep up that .300+ batting average? He turns a line out to left field into a triple. JJ Putz finally gets knocked around and gives up two runs and that's your ballgame.